 |
| MJ Barrera's career-high boosted JRU's Final Four hopes. NCAA |
MANILA––Jose Rizal University kept its flickering NCAA Final Four hopes alive after shocking current fourth placer Letran, 90-86, in a crucial Saturday match-up at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Despite flubbing in the second quarter, the Heavy Bombers bounced back mightily in the third quarter by holding the Knights to just 13 points before staying in control of the game for most of the fourth quarter.
MJ Barrera posted a career-high 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting with one rebound, two assists, one steal, and one block for JRU, which moved up to 4-9, now two and a half games behind Letran for the last Final Four spot.
Joshua Guiab bucked early foul trouble and added 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Jimboy Estrada came one point shy of matching his career-high and finished with 29 points alongside seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals for the Knights, who fell to 7-7.
Jace Miller also had a career-high with 16 points on top of three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
The scores:
JRU 90 – Barrera 22, Guiab 19, De Leon 10, Argente 9, Ramos 7, Bernardo 7, Sarmiento 7, Raymundo 6, Pangilinan 3, Panapanaan 0, De Jesus 0, Lozano 0, Benitez 0, Mosqueda 0
LETRAN 86 – Estrada 29, Miller 16, Cuajao 13, Go 9, Jumao-As 7, Montecillo 6, Nunag 3, Santos 2, Javillonar 1, Dimaano 0
Quarterscores: 28-22, 45-48, 63-61, 90-86
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
.jpg)
